Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas 68nm from Fort Taylor, Fla., was one of many military facilities that housed deserters. Escape from that fort was next to impossible. That said, there was a case of slaves who had managed to take a boat and flee. They were later captured by a "wrecker," who attempted to be compensated for the "cargo." The wrecker was not successful in gaining compensation, and the slaves were sent back to Fort Jefferson.